> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.appsignal.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# AppSignal Standalone agent configuration

Configuring the AppSignal standalone agent is important because, without it, the standalone agent won't know which application it is reporting data for.

In this documentation we'll explain how and what can be configured in the standalone agent and how the configuration is loaded.

## Minimal configuration

With a minimal configuration AppSignal will receive enough information to report the data collected by the agent from one of your apps.

A minimal configuration requires the following configuration options to be set:

* [App name](/standalone-agent/configuration/options#option-app_name)
* [App environment](/standalone-agent/configuration/options#option-environment)
* [Push API key](/standalone-agent/configuration/options#option-push_api_key)

## Configuration methods

### Configuration file

The AppSignal standalone agent can be configured with a configuration file. This method is required for the [Linux package installation method][linux package].

You need to find, or create, the configuration file at `/etc/appsignal-agent.conf`. Once you've found or created a configuration file can then configure the agent with the config options listed on the [options page][options].

#### Example configuration file

Below is an example of an `appsignal-agent.conf` configuration file.

For the full list of options, please see the [configuration options][options] page.

<CodeGroup>
  ```toml TOML theme={null}
  # /etc/appsignal-agent.conf
  push_api_key = "0000-0000-0000-000"
  app_name = "My app name"
  environment = "production"
  hostname = "hostname"
  ```
</CodeGroup>

### System environment variable

Another way of configuring AppSignal is by using system environment variables on the host the application AppSignal is monitoring is running on.

This configuration method is used by the [standalone agent Docker image][docker image]. It can also be used for the [Linux package][linux package] in combination with the [configuration file](#configuration-file).

Make sure these environment variables are configured in the way that's compatible with your Operating System and that the configuration get loaded before the standalone agent is started.

The [configuration options][options] page lists each config option's equivalent system environment variable. You can use these variables to configure the standalone agent, for example when configuring your app name:

<CodeGroup>
  ```sh Shell theme={null}
  # Common Linux Bash example
  export APPSIGNAL_APP_NAME="My app"
  ```
</CodeGroup>

[linux package]: /standalone-agent/installation/linux-package.html

[docker image]: /standalone-agent/installation/docker-image.html

[options]: /standalone-agent/configuration/options.html